Sheriff gets angry with man who threatened violence

A LERWICK man who threatened to rape a police officer’s wife once out of custody escaped a prison sentence by the narrowest of margins.

Thomas Drever’s conduct when in custody at Lerwick police station on 9 December last year was described as “appalling”, “offensive” but also as “stupid” and “indefensible”.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday how the 25-year-old was shouting abuse and uttering threats.

Drever, of Sandveien, pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour, aggravated by prejudice to disability.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said that “clearly his behaviour was appalling” but also stupid, as “he was talking himself into a great deal of trouble”.

However, he was interrupted by Sheriff Ian Cruickshank saying that “everybody is always remorseful afterwards” which clearly was not good enough.

He said Drever’s conduct was “indefensible” and expressed the hope that people would think before they speak.

He told him that “playing the hard man” would only get him into prison and added that he was on the “cusp of making you [Drever] paying the consequences”.

He fined him £1,000, payable at £50 per month, and warned him that if he does not pay this he would have no hesitation of sending him to jail.